CHAPTER 3

CIRCLES II

Symmetry Of Circles
A circle is symmetrical about any
line that passes through its
centre.
Example:
Any diameter of
a circle is an axis
of symmetry

Axes of symmetry

Example:
Identify the axis of symmetry for the following
circles.
M

U
J

K
Q

P
O

L
R

TU

LM

Properties Of Chords
A radius that is perpendicular to a
chord divides the chord into two
equal parts and vice versa.

When OP AB, then AT = TB.

When AT = TB, then OP
AB.

T
P

Example:

Find the lengths ofx and y.

10 cm

y cm
8 cm

x cm

8 cm
x = ______________________

y = ______________________
6 cm

The perpendicular bisectors of two

chords intersects at the centre of the
circle.
E
D

AC and DF are two chords.

BO and EO meet at the centre O

O
C
A
B

Two chords that are equal in length

are equidistant from the centre and
vice versa.
P

X
Q

When PQ = RS, then OX = O

When OX = OY, then PQ = R

Example:
F
X
G

Given that EF = GH = 12 c
and OF = 10 cm,
find the length of OX.
8 cm
OX = _________

Chords of the same length cut arcs of

the same length.
B

When chord AB = chord CD =

chord EF, then minor arc AB =
minor arc CD = minor arc EF.
A
D
F

Example:

Given that JL = NL and NM

is 18 cm, find the length of
JKL.

L
O

18
JKL = _________
cm

minor
segment

major
segment
Q

XPY is called a minor arc while

XQY is called a major arc.

Example:
1.In the diagram, AB = DC. AMB, DNC and DOB
are straight lines. If O is the centre of the
circle, MN = 16cm and DB = 20cm, find the
length of AB.
1
A

OB =

OM =
O

1
2

DB = 10 cm

MN = 8 cm

MB = 102 - 82

= 100 - 64
= 36
= 6 cm

AB = 2 x 6 = 12 cm

2.In the diagram, P and Q are the centres of two

identical circles of radius 15cm. If KL = MN =
24cm, find the length of XY.
24
KX =

= 12 cm

XP = 152 - 122
= 225 - 144

= 81
= 9 cm

XY = XP + PQ + QY

= 9 cm + 15 cm + 9
= 33 cm

3.Given that PQ = 12 cm and RS = 8 cm, find

the length of PM and RN.
P

PM =

Q
O

= 6 cm
RN =

12 cm

8 cm
2

= 4 cm

4.In the figure above, BD = 4 cm. Find the

length of AOB.

EB = BD = 4 cm
E

OB = 3 cm

5 cm
A

B
4 cm
D

AOB = 5 cm + 3 cm
= 8 cm

5.Given that the radius of the circle is 10 cm

and RT is 12 cm, find the length of PS.

RS = 6 cm

T
O
S
Q
R

OS = 8 cm

PS = 10 cm + 8 cm
= 18 cm

5.In the figure, the arcs SVT and PQR are of the
same length. Given that OS = 13 cm, find the
length of UR and OU.
R

PR = 10 cm

Q
V
10 cm

U
O
P

UR = 5 cm
2
2
OU = OR

2
UR

=132 - 52
= 169 - 25
OU = 144
= 12 cm